Ah Spring Break! The well deserved and much needed respite that teachers and students get between the 3rd and 4th quarters of the school year.
There is a dark cloud, however, a trouble that plagues those with kids: no school!
Kids get a little crazy when they are home for a week with not much to do. As such I try to plan ahead and have a lot of things of various sorts ready to go beforehand. This past Spring Break I had scheduled a couple hikes, a movie or two, some fun lunches, a visit to the library, and a trip to the Discovery Park of America.
Discovery Park of America, or DPA for short, is a wondrous place located in Union City, Tennessee (Northwest Tennessee). It's not a super huge facility, but it is jam packed with fun and adventure.
We were a bit unlucky in that the day we picked for this trip was during the one rainy day of the week. However, the mix of outdoor and indoor activities provided an amazing time for my two kids. Both boys like different things. The older one likes cars, science, space and stuff like that whereas the younger boy likes dinosaurs, machines and rough and tumble antics. Both were satisfied with the DPA.
Upon entering you are greeted by a stuffed or heavily tranquilized Grizzly Bear. From there they have natural history displays, military vehicles from history including replicas of the atomic bombs used in World War II. There is even a section on torture. They have classic cars, dinosaur skeletons, a giant slide in the shape of a human body that kids can use to go from one level of the museum to the one below. Outside there is a garage with several vintage farm equipment, a reproduction of an old American town, different gardens (one is a Japanese garden). There is also a church and old rockets from NASA from the 60s.
The two boys had a blast and wanted to stay longer. Sadly we had plans for the next day. This is a great place that is not too far for either Memphians or Nashvillians. They have a variety of tickets that allow you to see what you want. I recommend the all access pass so you can do everything. There is also a pass that allows you to have two days. Might be good especially if you want to kill multiple days. I highly recommend this awesome place that has something for everyone.
Showing posts with label West Tennessee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Tennessee. Show all posts
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Reelfoot Lake
Since I first moved to Tennessee back in 91 I've heard tales of the majestic Reelfoot Lake. It's someplace that I've wanted to go to for years, but just never had the opportunity to do so. That changed over the recent MLK Jr. Holiday.
The wife and I are hiking enthusiasts. We've made it a habit to go hiking once a week. Usually we go to Meeman-Shelby. But we decided to do something "wacky" on our long weekend.
The drive up was pretty nice. We took Highway 51 up from Memphis to Dyersburg. When we hit Dyersburg is when the fun started. We got lost.
The signs pointing our way were a bit confusing and misplaced. Some signs seemingly pointed to nothing, but at the last minute the road would become visible and I'd have to veer over. We ended up wandering about several small towns and finally made our way back onto Hwy 51. We arrived at the lake around 3 hours after we left the house. It turns out that the ride up would be the best part of the trip.
The visitor center was okay. There were some interesting things up in their gallery and they had a small nature center where you could hold snakes. After using the facilities and taking a stroll through the swamp, we decided to tackle the Keystone Trail after our lunch.
After our feast of tuna salad and crackers and apples we headed to Keystone.
What we found left us in disappointment.
The Keystone Picnic area is nice. There's a rather newish shelter complete with bathrooms and several picnic tables set next to the lake. However, the trail itself is pitiful. There is no trail head marker, nor are there any markers on the trail in any form. It looked like the locals use it as their dumping ground. I saw all sorts of trash and even one spent shotgun shell.
We wandered through the muddy and stump laden path until it curved into the lake. We snapped a couple pictures and headed out.
The path is billed as Reelfoot's only lake side path. Though it went along the lake, you couldn't really tell. There was very little in ways of scenery. It was all very dreary and grey.
Maybe I messed up by going in the winter, but I can definitely say I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed that something that was supposed to be awesome was not and I'm disappointed in how State Parks are falling to pieces. We as citizens should support these parks and help them become something everyone can enjoy and be proud of.
The wife and I are hiking enthusiasts. We've made it a habit to go hiking once a week. Usually we go to Meeman-Shelby. But we decided to do something "wacky" on our long weekend.
The drive up was pretty nice. We took Highway 51 up from Memphis to Dyersburg. When we hit Dyersburg is when the fun started. We got lost.
The signs pointing our way were a bit confusing and misplaced. Some signs seemingly pointed to nothing, but at the last minute the road would become visible and I'd have to veer over. We ended up wandering about several small towns and finally made our way back onto Hwy 51. We arrived at the lake around 3 hours after we left the house. It turns out that the ride up would be the best part of the trip.
The visitor center was okay. There were some interesting things up in their gallery and they had a small nature center where you could hold snakes. After using the facilities and taking a stroll through the swamp, we decided to tackle the Keystone Trail after our lunch.
After our feast of tuna salad and crackers and apples we headed to Keystone.
What we found left us in disappointment.
The Keystone Picnic area is nice. There's a rather newish shelter complete with bathrooms and several picnic tables set next to the lake. However, the trail itself is pitiful. There is no trail head marker, nor are there any markers on the trail in any form. It looked like the locals use it as their dumping ground. I saw all sorts of trash and even one spent shotgun shell.
We wandered through the muddy and stump laden path until it curved into the lake. We snapped a couple pictures and headed out.
The path is billed as Reelfoot's only lake side path. Though it went along the lake, you couldn't really tell. There was very little in ways of scenery. It was all very dreary and grey.
Maybe I messed up by going in the winter, but I can definitely say I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed that something that was supposed to be awesome was not and I'm disappointed in how State Parks are falling to pieces. We as citizens should support these parks and help them become something everyone can enjoy and be proud of.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
More thoughts on Meeman-Shelby State Park
I'm really enjoying my jaunts to Meeman-Shelby State Park aka Shelby Forest. I've been three times. The wife and I are going to start making our trips there a weekly thing.
It's an extremely peaceful place and a great reprieve from the hectic pace of Memphis. It's also an awesome place to get some exercise. One of my biggest difficulties in exercising is that I really dislike the energy in gyms. The atmosphere is dreary and often times the other patrons can have an attitude about them that discourages me from continuing. However, in the woods you're alone and have nothing but yourself to keep you from exercising. I feel much more motivated when I'm in the wild. No one's looking at me and judging. I'm just enjoying my rigorous walk in the woods. The only person to stop me from working out is me.
Shelby Forest's Woodland trail is about 3 miles long and has some ups and downs. It's a good start for the beginning hiker. I feel that it's hard enough to get things pumping, but easy enough to keep discouragement down.
Being a State Park Shelby Forest doesn't get much money or help. Friends of Meeman-Shelby help out, but just from seeing the state of the Woodland Trail, it needs more. I really want to start helping out, even if it's just removing debris from the trail, but it needs to start somewhere.
If you're a Memphian and you want a break from the hustle and grind of Memphis, take the short jaunt North on Highway 51 and see our nice little State Park.
It's an extremely peaceful place and a great reprieve from the hectic pace of Memphis. It's also an awesome place to get some exercise. One of my biggest difficulties in exercising is that I really dislike the energy in gyms. The atmosphere is dreary and often times the other patrons can have an attitude about them that discourages me from continuing. However, in the woods you're alone and have nothing but yourself to keep you from exercising. I feel much more motivated when I'm in the wild. No one's looking at me and judging. I'm just enjoying my rigorous walk in the woods. The only person to stop me from working out is me.
Shelby Forest's Woodland trail is about 3 miles long and has some ups and downs. It's a good start for the beginning hiker. I feel that it's hard enough to get things pumping, but easy enough to keep discouragement down.
Being a State Park Shelby Forest doesn't get much money or help. Friends of Meeman-Shelby help out, but just from seeing the state of the Woodland Trail, it needs more. I really want to start helping out, even if it's just removing debris from the trail, but it needs to start somewhere.
If you're a Memphian and you want a break from the hustle and grind of Memphis, take the short jaunt North on Highway 51 and see our nice little State Park.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Meeman-Shelby State Park
I've lived in Memphis since 2001 for a total of 5 years (I spent 5 years in Japan) and I have never until yesterday visited this nice state park. It's located roughly 17 miles north of Memphis but seems much further.
Since I am planning to climb Kilimanjaro in the summer of 2016 I need to get in shape as such I've decided to start regular hiking. Unfortunately there is little in the way of hiking in the Memphis area, except for Meeman-Shelby Park. It has 5 trails, only three of which are for hiking though. I chose the Woodland Trail as it is the shortest at 3 miles.
For most of the initial hike you are on top of a ridge overlooking a heavily wooded valley. The trail is mostly flat, but you go up and down a few steep hills. It's nothing too rigorous however. It's a pleasant and relatively easy hike. It took my buddy and I less than two hours to complete it (the map claims it takes 3 hours to hike the path). We even stopped for lunch.
The only bad thing about the trail was that it is poorly kept. We found at least 4 trees that had fallen onto the trail. One tree demolished a bridge. We had to climb the ruined bridge and over the tree to continue or take a bit of a dip. It's truly sad to see such a nice park with tons of potential fall into disrepair.
Overall the park is pretty nice. It makes for an easy and quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Memphis. I look forward to hitting the Woodland Trail again and to exploring some of the other trails that the park has to offer.
Since I am planning to climb Kilimanjaro in the summer of 2016 I need to get in shape as such I've decided to start regular hiking. Unfortunately there is little in the way of hiking in the Memphis area, except for Meeman-Shelby Park. It has 5 trails, only three of which are for hiking though. I chose the Woodland Trail as it is the shortest at 3 miles.
For most of the initial hike you are on top of a ridge overlooking a heavily wooded valley. The trail is mostly flat, but you go up and down a few steep hills. It's nothing too rigorous however. It's a pleasant and relatively easy hike. It took my buddy and I less than two hours to complete it (the map claims it takes 3 hours to hike the path). We even stopped for lunch.
The only bad thing about the trail was that it is poorly kept. We found at least 4 trees that had fallen onto the trail. One tree demolished a bridge. We had to climb the ruined bridge and over the tree to continue or take a bit of a dip. It's truly sad to see such a nice park with tons of potential fall into disrepair.
Overall the park is pretty nice. It makes for an easy and quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Memphis. I look forward to hitting the Woodland Trail again and to exploring some of the other trails that the park has to offer.
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